Hot Topics:

Lowell area students getting into the giving spirit

By Kori Tuitt, ktuitt@lowellsun.com

Updated:
11/22/2016 12:56:45 PM EST

Lowell High Head of School Brian Martin, left, joins the officers of the Class of 2017 and members of the Student Council in kicking off the school's fundraising effort for the Sun Santa Fund. Find out how to get your school involved at lowellsun.com. COURTESY PHOTO

LOWELL -- Year after year, young people have made a difference in the lives of local families around the holidays through their contributions to The Sun Santa Fund. Whether they're 3 or 13, kids in the Lowell area are finding ways to give back.

She said most kids end up choosing to do both their homework and help out with the chores around their homes. At the end of the week, youngsters have to submit a sheet outlining what chore they completed each night.

"When I introduce it to them, we talk about how not everyone is lucky enough to have a roof over their heads, not everyone has a house, not everyone has a full meal every day," Gillotte said. "They do get it."

Tewksbury recently implemented full-day kindergarten, which means the Dewing School has seven kindergarten classes, one more than it did last year. Gillotte said every year they raise more. She is hoping that with the extra class, they can raise $1,000 this year.

Advertisement

Gillotte said parents were particularly generous last year, with many sending in $10 and $20 bills for the cause. As a kid growing up in Tewksbury, Gillotte recalls her parents receiving The Sun every day. It was exciting for her to see news about The Sun Santa Fund and how much money was being raised.

"It's heartwarming to see how into it everybody gets and how supportive everybody is, how supportive the parents are and how interested the kids are and how much they want to help and do what they can," she said.

ABC Nursery & Preschool teacher Barbara Dowd, far left, and assistant Karen Perrier, far right, with students at the Chelmsford school and some of the food they collected for their Thanksgiving food drive for the Merrimack Valley Food Bank.
SUN/JOHN LOVE

A notice about the school's fundraising effort will go out to parents Monday.

Tom Thornton, Lowell High School's coordinator of student activities, said the school will definitely be participating in this year's drive. Last year was Lowell High's first year participating, and students raised $1,400.

"This year, we're going to start kicking off right at the City of Lights Parade with different Sun Santa signs," Thornton said.

The City of Lights Parade is Saturday through downtown, and a number of Lowell High students will be there to advertise their fundraising efforts.

"At Lowell High, we have over 100 different advisory classrooms, and each homeroom was asked to collect as much loose change as they could," Thornton said.

He said the goal this year is simply to raise more than last year's total. But getting involved is not just about the dollars raised. It's also an important learning experience for students.

"Every little bit counts, no matter how small it is," Thornton said. "Kids really do enjoy the idea of giving to the younger generation, which is nice to see."

Thornton said the school also collects money to bring gifts for students at the Murkland Elementary School in Lowell through the "Merry for Murkland" program. Last year, the Murkland School held a penny drive, raising $500 for The Sun Santa Fund.

Even kids as young as 3 at the ABC Nursery & Preschool in Chelmsford are in the spirit of giving.

"We have our children bring in donations to The Sun Santa Fund," Director Lois Kelley said. "Some bring in pennies or a dollar, and some parents put in checks as well. Whatever the children come up with is fine."

After Thanksgiving, the children will begin bringing in donations for The Sun Santa Fund. In the meantime, kids are bringing in food to donate to the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. They usually donate about 400 pounds of food to help other families with their Thanksgiving feast.

They also craft Thanksgiving-themed centerpieces for the Sunny Acres Nursing Home in Chelmsford, and send thank-you cards to veterans.

"We try to have the kids understand about helping others and thinking of others," Kelley said. "The teachers do lesson plans about helping people who are in need. They love it."

"When my daughter Jovie donated to the Santa Fund last year, we explained to her what the charity was," Jackie Benoit said in an email. "She went into her piggy bank and we counted up the change. She was excited to share her money.

"We were/are teaching Jovie about sharing and caring, especially with others who are less fortunate," she added.

Welcome to your discussion forum: Sign in with a Disqus account or your social networking account for your comment to be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (READ HOW.)
Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of The Sun. So keep it civil.